Rotary converter sealing devices



Aug. 16, 1955 N. F. KING 2,715,570

ROTARY CONVERTER SEALING DEVICES Filed June 5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

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ATTORNEY 6, 1955 N. F. KING ROTARY CONVERTER SEALING DEVICES Filed June 3, 1954 Fig 3 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

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ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiiice 2,715,570 Patented Aug. 16, 1955 ROTARY CONVERTER SEALING DEVICES Nelson F. King, Wilmington, Del., assignor to Sun Oil Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 3, 1954, Serial No. 434,296 8 Claims. (Cl. 23288) In an application filed by Clarence H. Thayer September 14, 1953, Serial No. 380,627, later allowed, and issued March 22, 1955, as Patent No. 2,704,741, there is shown and described a converter in which ditierent fluids are passed successively through contact material, typically a catalyst, from which eflluent products are successively removed. The converter comprises fixed inner and outer cylindrical casings, and an annular rotatable reaction vessel between such casings and spaced from both to form inner and outer circumferential spaces each of which is enclosed, top and bottom, by circumferentially extending sealing devices, and each of which is divided by vertically extending sealing devices into independent arcuate spaces or compartments. One of said casings, preferably the inner casing, is divided into compartments, equal in number to said arcuate spaces, into which the different fluids to be passed into the contact material are conveyed and from which such fluids continuously flow into the corresponding arcuate spaces and thence into radially extending catalyst containers communicating at opposite ends with said inner and outer circumferential spaces, which containers, in the rotation of the reaction vessel, are brought into communication one after another with the several arcuate spaces. The vertically extending sealing devices carried by the two casings are arranged in pairs, one carried by each casing, so that at any given time in the rotation of the reaction vessel the same set of catalyst-containing containers communicates with corresponding inner and outer arcuate spaces.

It is of importance that these seals shall be as fluidtight as possible in order to avoid leakage from one arcuate compartment to another; also to prevent such leakage in case of any departure from perfect fluid-tightness.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a sectional elevation of the converter showing only such features thereof as are necessary to embody the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the converter.

Figure 3 is a crosssectional view in detail of one of the seals, the seal selected for illustration beingone of the vertically extending seals between the outer casing and the reaction vessel.

Figure 4 is a view in elevation of a vertically extending seal and a circumferentially extending seal and parts adjacent thereto.

The main features of construction of the converter, disclosed in more detail in said prior application and to which the improved sealing devices are applied, will first be briefly described, reference being made more particularly to Figures 1 and 2.

is an outer cylindrical casing which is fixed to a supporting base 11. The casing 10 is made pressuretight and encloses the reaction vessel 12 containing the catalyst.

The reaction vessel 12 is annular in shape, being formed by an outer cylindrical wall and an inner cylindrical wall connected by upper and lower annular plates.

The reaction vessel 12 contains a multiplicity of similarly shaped catalyst chambers 15 arranged around the vessels circumference, each chamber also extending vertically from at or near the top to at or near the bottom of the reaction chamber. These chambers may assume different forms, another form being disclosed in said prior application; but the simplified form shown is adequate to illustrate the application of the invention to any arrangement of catalyst-containing chambers. Each chamber contains catalyst of a type and activity suitable for the tie sired hydrocarbon reaction.

The reaction vessel 12 is disposed within the casing 10 to provide an outer annular space 25 between the casing and the outer wall of the reaction vessel, a lower space 26 between the base 11 and the lower wall 14 of the reaction vessel and an enlarged space 27 above the upper wall of the reaction vessel. The reaction vessel is rotatable by means not shown.

Within and spaced from the reaction vessel is an inner stationary casing forming between it and the inner wall of the reaction vessel an annular space 28. The inner casing is divided by a number of walls or partitions 36 into four (preferably sector-shaped) compartments 37 into which are fed, respectively: the hydrocarbons to be reacted; purging fluid, such as steam; a regenerating medium, such as air, to remove carbon deposited on the catalyst in the first step; and a second purging to remove regenerating products formed during the third step. Three of the four supply conduits, lettered a, b and c, that supply three of the above specified fluids to their respective sectors are shown in Fig. 1. From the several compartments 37 of the casing 35 the several specified fluids flow into the several arcuate spaces or compartments into which the annular space 28 is divided by the vertically extending seals E, and from such arcuate spaces into the catalyst-containing chambers 15. These arcuate spaces are four in number, corresponding in number to the compartments 37, and the seals E align vertically with the partitions 36 that divide the inner easing into such compartments 37. Each arcuate space thus constantly receives one of the supply fluids.

The annular space 28 is sealed at the top by a circumferentially extending seal, or series of seals, G, and at the bottom by a circumferentially extending seal, or series of seals, H.

The annular space 25 between the reaction vessel 12 and the outer cylindrical casing 10 is sealed at the top by circumferentially extending seals I and at the bottom by circumferentially extending seals J. The outer vertically of the reaction vessel, the same set of catalyst-containing chambers 15 communicates with the corresponding or and outside the reaction ves- This description, so far as it has proceeded, discloses no feature of construction which is essentially different from what is disclosed in said prior application. Many features of such construction, not essential to a full disclosure of the invention herein sought to be patented, are omitted, and the seals, hereinafter described in detail, are shown only diagrammatically. It may be desirable, however, to briefly describe the operation common to said prior application and the present disclosure. As the reaction vessel 12 rotates, each catalyst-containing chamber 15 registers successively with the several. arcuate spaces, between the reaction vessel 12 and the inner casing 35, into which the circumferential spaces are divided by the seals E. Each catalyst-containing chamber 15 thus receives successively the several fluids supplied to the several arcuate spaces from the respective compartments 37- within the inner casing 15. At any give moment a considerable number of these compartments 15 receives cally extending 7 surfaces into the adjacent arcuate spaces the same fluid. The vertical seals E that determine the lengths, measured arcuately, of the several arcuate spaces between the inner casing 35 and the rotating reaction vessel 12 are of suflicient width to each overlap the inlet to any one catalyst-containing chamber 15. The same description applies to the arcuate spaces between the rotating reaction vessel and the outer casing 12. Thus at any given moment one set of catalyst-containing chambers 15 is receiving, from one of the inner arcuate spaces, the same hydrocarbon reactant or the same purging fluid and is discharging the products of reaction or purging into the corresponding outer arcuate space, from each of which outer arcuate spaces the products of reaction or purging are removed through a common conduit. The several discharge conduits 47 are shown in Fig. 2.

The sealing devices E, F, G, H, I, I, are designed for application to a converter of the type described and are illustrated in detail in Figures 1, 3 and 4, reference being made particularly to Figures 3 and 4. While Figure 3 shows one of the vertically extending seals F between the rotatable reaction vessel 12 and the stationary outer casing 10, all the seals, whether extending vertically or circumferentially, are or may be of the same specific construction and therefore require no separate specific descriptions. All are supported from one or the other of the fixed casings and 35.

Secured to the outer casing 10, preferably by welding, are vertically extending bars holders 41. Confined between each bar and holder is one end of a diaphragm 42 the central part of which is offset in a downward direction and by means of a bolt 44 is secured to and supports a vertically extending sealing block 43. The diaphragm may be of spring metal and is so shaped asto press the block 43 against the outer wall of the rotatable reaction vessel. The width of the block 43 is such as to fit closely between the two holders 41, while permitting radial movement of the block relative to the converter.

To insure a substantially tight fit between each bar 40 and its corresponding holder. 41 a gasket 45 is confined between the diaphragm 42 and the bar 40 and a gasket 46 is confined between the diaphragm 42 and the holder 41. A gasket 47 is confined between the central part of the diaphragm 42 and the sealing block 43. The construction so far described affords a seal that, if manufactured with great precision, may effectually prevent leakage of fluid from one arcuate space to another or reduce leakage to what might be deemed negligible. I prefer, however, to more effectively guard against such leakage. To this end the space enclosed by the elements 40, 41, 42 and 43 is connected through a conduit 50 with a source of supply fluid, say steam, under a pressure somewhat in excess of that which exists in the arcuate spaces on opposite sides of the sealing device. The sealing block 43 is provided with a cross-channel or channels 49 opposite ends of which extend to the face of the holder. Other channels 51, communicating with channels 49, communicate with vertically extending grooves 53, which open against the wall of the reaction vessel. The bolt 44 is provided with a central passage 52 to connect channels 49, 51 and 53 with the, source of fluid pressure. It is clear that if the contacting faces of the stealing block 43 with the holder 41 and with the face of the rotatable reaction vessel are not absolutely fluid tight, there can be leakage only between these contacting between the casing and the rotatable reaction vessel, which in minor amount is quite unobjectionable.

In the construction just described, the diaphragm 42 need not function to press the sealing block against the reaction vessel 12, since the pressure fluid within the space enclosed by the members 40, 41, 42 and 43 may be relied upon to effect this contact.

There is no occasion to describe the vertically extending sealing devices located between the inner casing 35 40 to which are bolted verti-' and the rotary reaction vessel 12, or the circumferentially extending sealing devices between the rotatable reaction vessel 12 and each casing, as these need differ in no essential detail from the sealing device illustrated in Fig. 3.

The circumferentially extending sealing units G, H, I, I, may be overlapped by the ends of the vertically extending sealing units E and F. Any vertically extending sealing unit may, if desired, be made in sections, adjacent sections overlapping, and the end sections of a vertical row of sealing units may overlap adjacent circumferentially extending sealing units, which latter, also, may be made in sections. Pins 70, such'as shown in Fig. 4, extend through one of the overlapping sealing units and make close to end contact with the adjacent sealing unit without impairing the efliciency and tightness of the sealing device. These features, shown and described in application Ser. No. 412,230, filed February 24, 1954, are not herein shown in detail, since they constitute no feature of the sealing devices included in the claims.

It will be understood that while it is contemplated that seals such as shown and described shall be utilized as both the inner and outer vertically extending'seals and as upper and lower circumferentially extending seals, it is within the scope of the invention to utilize such seals as either only vertically extending inner or outer seals or as upper or lower circumferentially extending seals and do not necessarily exclude the use of other types of seals at locations other than those to which the seals shown and described are applied.

What is claimed is:

1. In a converter in which different fluids are fed successively into catalyst containers and from which the difierent products are successively removed, the same comprising a fixed outer cylindrical casing, a fixed inner cylindrical casing, an annular revoluble reaction vessel containing a multiplicity of catalyst chambers arranged around the vessels circumference and each extending generally radially within the vessel, said vessel being located between the inner and outer casings and spaced from both to form inner and outer circumferential spaces partitioned by vertically and circumferentially extending sealing devices to form sets of inner and outer arcuate spaces, the arcuate spaces of one set adapted to receive apart holders secured to the the respective fluids, and the arcuate spaces of the other set adapted to receive the eflluent fluids; the improvement in any of said sealing devices which comprises spaced-apart bars secured to one of the casings, spaced each of its opposite ends being secured between a bar and the holder, a sealing block between and closely fitting the holders but slidable toward either casing, the central, part of the diaphragm being secured to and carrying thesealing block, the latter contacting with the rotatable reaction vessel,

2. The construction specified in claim 1 comprising also a passage, for communication with a source of pressure fluid, opening into the space enclosed by the said bars, holders, diaphragm and sealing block.

3. The construction specified in claim 2 comprising also channels in the sealing block extending to the front and side faces of the sealing block, and a flow channel connecting said channels with said space.

4. The construction specified in claim 3 in which the means securing the central part of the sealing block to the central part of the diaphragm is a bolt, said bolt having an orifice extending therethrough and providing the flow channel connecting the channels with said'space.

5. The combination with a structure comprising a'fixed cylindrical casing and a revoluble casing having anumber of substantially radially extending chambers, the casings forming between them a circumferential space into which fluid is adapted to flow through one casing and out of which fluid is adapted'to flow through the other casing, of a sealing device between the casings which extends for a limited arcuate distance within said cirrespective bars, a diaphragm.

cumferentially extending space and prevents leakage from the space ahead of and behind said sealing device into the last named casing into which said fluid would flow in the absence of a seal, said sealing device comprising spaced-apart bars secured to one of the casings, spaced-apart holders secured to the respective bars, a diaphragm each of its opposite ends being secured between a bar and its respective holder, a sealing block between and closely fitting the holders but slidable toward either casing, the central part of the diaphragm being secured to and carrying the holder.

6. The construction specified in claim 5 comprising also a passage, for communication with a source of pressure fluid, opening into the space enclosed by the said bars, holders, diaphragm and sealing block.

7. The construction specified in claim 6 comprising also channels in the sealing block extending to the front and side faces of the sealing block, and a flow channel connecting said channels with said space.

8. The construction specified in claim 7 in which the means securing the central part of the sealing block to the central part of the diaphragm is a bolt, said bolt having an orifice extending therethrough and providing the flow channel connecting the channels with said space.

463,069 Apr. 14, 1951 

1. IN A CONVERTER IN WHICH DIFFERENT FLUIDS ARE FED SUCCESSIVELY INTO CATALYST CONTAINERS AND FROM WHICH THE DIFFERENT PRODUCTS ARE SUCCESSIVELY REMOVED, THE SAME COMPRISING A FIXED OUTER CYLINDRICAL CASING, A FIXED INNER CYLINDRICAL CASING, AN ANNULAR REVOLUBLE REACTION VESSEL CONTAINING A MULTIPLICITY OF CATALYST CHAMBERS ARRANGED AROUND THE VESSEL''S CIRCUMFERENCE AND EACH EXTENDING GENERALLY RADIALLY WITHIN THE VESSEL, SAID VESSEL BEING LOCATED BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER CASINGS AND SPACED FROM BOTH TO FORM INNER AND OUTER CIRCUMFERENTIAL SPACES PARTITIONED BY VERTICALLY AND CIRCUMFERENTIALLY EXTENDING SEALING DEVICES TO FORM SETS OF INNER AND OUTER ARCUATE SPACES, THE ARCUATE SPACES OF ONE SET ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE RESPECTIVE FLUIDS, AND THE ARCUATE SPACES OF THE OTHER SET ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE EFFLUENT FLUIDS; THE IMPROVEMENT IN ANY OF SAID SEALING DEVICES WHICH COMPRISES SPACED-APART BARS SECURED TO ONE OF THE CASINGS, SPACED APART HOLDERS SECURED TO THE RESPECTIVE BARS, A DIAPHRAGM EACH OF ITS OPPOSITE ENDS BEING SECURED BETWEEN A BAR AND THE HOLDER, A SEALING BLOCK BETWEEN AND CLOSELY FITTING THE HOLDERS BUT SLIDABLE TOWARD EITHER CASING, THE CENTRAL PART OF THE DIAPHRAGM BEING SECURED TO AND CARRYING THE SEALING BLOCK, THE LATTER CONTACTING WITH THE ROTATABLE REACTION VESSEL. 